Cadmium sulfide quantum dots

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions comprising cadmium sulfide quantum dot photocatalysts and methods and systems utilizing as much (e.g., for the reduction of a nitrobenzene to an aniline).

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system comprising:
 (a) a 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA)-capped cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dot (QD); and 
 (b) a nitrobenzene compound. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nitrobenzene compound is selected from the group consisting of: nitrobenzene, 4-nitrobenzoic acid, methyl 4-nitrobenzoate, 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene, 1-fluoro-4-nitrobenzene, 4-nitroaniline, 1-tertbutyl-4-nitrobenzene, 2,4,6-tri-tertbutyl-nitrobenzene, 1,3-dimethyl-2-nitrobenzene, 1,3-dimethyl-5-nitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2,3-dinitrotoluene, 2,5-dinitrotoluene, 3,4-dinitrotoluene, 3,5-dinitrotoluene, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, 2,4,6-trinitrophenol, and 2,4,6-trinitro-1,3-benzenediol. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more solvents. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more solvents comprise water and/or methanol. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an aniline. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 5 , wherein the aniline is selected from the group consisting of: aniline, 4-aminobenzoic acid, methyl 4-aminobenzoate, 1-chloro-4-aminobenzene, 1-fluoro-4-aminobenzene, 4-aminoaniline, 1-tertbutyl-4-aminobenzene, 2,4,6-tri-tertbutyl-aminobenzene, 1,3-dimethyl-2-aminobenzene, 1,3-dimethyl-5-aminobenzene, 2,4,6-triaminotoluene, 2,4-diaminotoluene, 2,6-diaminotoluene, 2,3-diaminotoluene, 2,5-diaminotoluene, 3,4-diaminotoluene, 3,5-diaminotoluene, 1,3,5-triaminobenzene, 2,4,6- triaminophenol, and 2,4,6-triamino-1,3-benzenediol. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , having a pH below 6.0. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , having a pH between 2 and 5. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cadmium sulfide quantum dot is in solution. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a surface, wherein the cadmium sulfide quantum dot is adhered to the surface. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the surface is the interior of a vessel. 
     
     
       12. A method of reducing a nitrobenzene to an aniline comprising illuminating a system of  claim 1  with light at a wavelength between 350 nm and 450 nm. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the light is at a wavelength between 395 nm and 415 nm. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the aniline is produced from the nitrobenzene through a phenylhydroxylamine intermediate.